Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Because these Yankees, as they try to capture their first American League East title since 2012, will be best served with a six-man rotation as long as all six of their current options remain healthy. Actually, going with six represents the Yankees’ optimal likelihood of keeping all six guys, not a one of whom lacks concern about either health or innings limits, active and productive.

“In theory, it sounds great,” Girardi said before the Yankees fell short ...

Since April, Benintendi has been a first-hand witness to the growing pains of the majors.

The 23-year-old hasn’t been able to find a groove at the plate all season, hitting .204 in May, .295 in June, then .222 in July.

“I feel like this year especially it’s been more frustrating because obviously these pitchers have got a scouting report on me and I’ve got one on them and it’s just this game of going back and forth,” Benintendi said. “Definitely still learning how people try to pitch me and ...

“Yes, it absolutely would change my mind,” Beltre said Tuesday before the Rangers hit three long home runs and still lost 8-7 to Seattle. “At this stage of my career, I’m not here for a rebuild. But I don’t think it will be. I think there is a possibility of this team playing better this year. I’m still focused on this year and don’t want to think about it right now, but it would change things for me.”

General manager Jon Daniels said bluntly Tuesday that Beltre need not worry.

Dr. Richard C. Hoblitzel, first baseman of the Boston American League baseball team, has volunteered and undergone examination for a commission in the dental reserve corps, it was announced today. Dr. Hoblitzel said he was uncertain when he was likely to be called.

Just your everyday “quality starting first baseman in his late 20s going to France to be a military dentist” story.

Ping Bodie says he was chatting with [Walter] Johnson one day and remarked that if Johnson would fire one every now and then close to the batter’s skull, few would stay up to the plate and try to get a hit. This is what Johnson said:

“No, Ping; I never tried to hit any batter, and I never will. The minute any manager tries to get me to hurl one at a batter’s head, that quick I will cut that team. If I cannot beat them honestly, I will lose.”

You might not recognize Pagan’s name, but if you’re even a casual follower of baseball, you know what he did.

Last October, during the seventh inning of the American League wild card game between the Jays and the Baltimore Orioles at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, a beer can flung from the stands nearly hit an Orioles outfielder in the middle of play.

Sports commentary tends to embrace hyperbole, so let’s just say it felt like the Lob Heard Around the World…

We haven’t run from the fact that we mentioned or talked about adding an additional bat to the lineup,” Mozeliak said. “We were unable to find a partner that was willing to do that. … We approached it as we were open to any ideas. We talked about what it might look like to move a player, and we also looked at what it would be to add players. It wasn’t that we were driven to do one or the other. In a broad sense, we definitely had trial balloons going up on all different fronts. Small ...

This may be true for most teams but it’s not true for all teams. Don’t get me wrong, though, it’s not easy. Teams with the most resources (including brain power) can, and should, do both.

The other day, an evaluator talking about the landscape of the trade market cited the essential purpose for the trade deadline: Either you advance and attack your weaknesses, or you retreat strategically. As best they can within their context, teams should either work to improve their playoff hopes or they ...

11. Did you notice that Lucroy was traded by Texas to Colorado for ... get this ... a player to be named later! Heading towards free agency, Lucroy is batting .242 (.635 OPS) with four homers and 27 RBI. The two-time All-Star catcher had an awful season at a very bad time. Remember that Mejia, Yu Chang, Greg Allen and Scott Armstrong were all headed to Milwaukee in the deal for Lucroy last July. He vetoed it and was later traded to Texas.

characterized by or holding idiosyncratic beliefs or impressions that are contradicted by reality or rational argument, typically as a symptom of mental disorder.
“hospitalization for schizophrenia and delusional paranoia”
based on or having faulty judgment; mistaken.
“their delusional belief in the project’s merits never wavers”

After months of bullpen woes and closer changes to begin the season, the Nats continued their bullpen overhaul by trading for right-hander Brandon Kintzler from the Twins. He becomes the third reliever Washington has acquired this month, as it sent left-hander Tyler Watson, who was its No.17 prospect as rated by MLBPipeline.com, and international bonus money to Minnesota.

A few days earlier, the Rangers insisted a deal for Darvish include one of Los Angeles’ two best prospects, pitcher Walker Buehler or outfielder Alex Verdugo. The Dodgers refused to consider either, a position on which they held firm in all offers. Texas eventually softened its stance and considered a deal around Willie Calhoun, one of the most unique prospects in years.

That’s what the Dodgers paid for, anyway: upside. They didn’t need Darvish, not really. They were just fine without him, which is why they weren’t willing to give up their top trio of prospects to get him. But this is clearly their year, and they weren’t about to let this year’s team head into October without every possible asset at their disposal. If Darvish adds value in October, the deal will be worth it. If he doesn’t? They might be good enough anyway.

The Astros and the Dodgers are looking to be the 90’s Braves not the 2003 Marlins. The Dodgers and Astros? Wait didn’t the Dodgers make the big deal? They made a deal but they traded away fungible assets. They didn’t trade any top prospects. Instead, they stayed disciplined and waited for a deal where they could give fair value to acquire a helpful rental.

Monday, July 31, 2017

Los Angeles sent right-handed pitcher Angel German and infielder Oneil Cruz, who was the team’s No. 21-ranked prospect, to the Pirates for Watson.

and

The Dodgers sent outfielder Scott Van Slyke and another [Hendrik Clementina] to the Reds for Cingrani, 28. Cingrani was a third-round pick of the Reds in 2011, and he will not be eligible for free agency until 2020. He has a 5.40 ERA in 25 games. He missed May with an oblique strain, and he has allowed nine earned runs in his last 5 2/3 innings.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, owners of the best record in baseball, have acquired right-hander Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers, according to Fox Sports.

Los Angeles landed perhaps the biggest name available right at the trade deadline on Monday. The Rangers will receive three minor-leaguers, but one of the Dodgers’ top prospects, outfielder Alex Verdugo, will not be part of the deal, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney.